Release Detail

October 31, 2000 - Clinton Slips And It's Neck And Neck In New York Again,
Quinnipiac University Poll Finds;
Her Loss Shifts To Undecided More Than To Lazio

First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton's support has slipped among New York State likely
voters and she gets 47 percent to U.S. Rep. Rick Lazio's 44 percent -- a race too close to call, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Nine percent are undecided.

Mrs. Clinton held a 50 - 43 percent lead in polls by the independent Quinnipiac
University September 27, October 6 and October 18, when 6 percent were undecided.

Rep. Lazio has increased his lead among upstate likely voters, from 49 - 44 percent
October 18 to 49 - 38 percent today. His lead in the suburbs has gone from 48 - 46 percent to
52 - 41 percent. Clinton leads 65 - 29 percent in New York City, up from 61 - 31 percent.

From October 24 - 30, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,009 New York State likely
voters, with a margin of error of +/- 3.1 percent.

"It still looks like Hillary vs. Hillary. Rep. Lazio's vote has barely changed. The
movement was away from Mrs. Clinton to undecided. The good news for Lazio is that Clinton
is losing ground. The bad news for Lazio is that he's barely gaining. The bad news for Clinton
is that she has dropped below that magic 50-percent mark. The good news is that she is on the
up side of a real squeaker," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling
Institute.

"Voters tend to come home to their political roots in a campaign's closing days. So
Lazio is gaining in Republican upstate while Clinton is gaining in Democratic New York City."

Mrs. Clinton's favorability among likely voters is split 39 - 40 percent, with 19 percent
mixed and 2 percent saying they don't know enough to form an opinion. This compares to a 40
- 37 favorability in the October 18 Quinnipiac University poll.

By a 38 - 29 percent margin, likely voters have a favorable opinion of Lazio, with 26
percent mixed and 7 percent saying they don't know enough to form an opinion. Lazio had a 35
- 29 percent favorability in the October 18 poll.

Lazio now gets 45 percent of white women likely voters, to Clinton's 44 percent, a tie,
but a drop from Clinton's 50 - 41 percent lead with this important voting group.

In open-ended questions, where voters can give any answer, a total of 40 percent of New
York likely voters say the thing they like most about Clinton is her position on various issues, such as education -- 15 percent, and health care -- 11 percent. The biggest Clinton "dislikes," held by 23 percent of voters each, are her perceived lack of honesty and the fact that she's not from New York.

The thing voters like most about Lazio, according to 24 percent, is that he's from New
York. His biggest "dislike," 17 percent, is his stand on domestic issues such as abortion -- 4
percent.

"New Yorkers are comfortable with Clinton on the issues, but the honesty question and
her status as an outsider remain her biggest problems," Carroll said.

"Lazio's image is fuzzier. There are no big likes or dislikes about him."

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, conducts public opinion
surveys in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut as a public service and for research.

5. Is your mind made up, or do you think you might change your mind before
the election?

... Likely Voters ....
Clinton Lazio
Voters Voters

Made up 86% 90%

Might change 14 9

DK/NA - 1

6. Would you describe your support for Clinton/Lazio as strongly favoring
him/her, or do you like Clinton/Lazio but with reservations, or do you support
Clinton/Lazio because you dislike the other candidate?

13. If the election for President were being held today and the candidates
were Al Gore the Democrat, George W. Bush the Republican, Pat Buchanan the
Reform Party candidate and Ralph Nader the Green Party candidate for whom
would you vote?